ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - As Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in the city of Tikrit to proclaim victory over the forces of the Islamic State, a Rudaw reporter gained exclusive interviews with Kurdish forces involved in the liberation.

Members of the Iraqi Army unit known as the Golden Force told Rudaw that Kurdish soldiers played a vital role in the battle for the city. The Golden Force has many Kurdish soldiers and is under the command of Fazil Barwari, a Kurdish commander.

During the interview, Kurdish soldiers vowed to liberate the ISIS-held city of Mosul.

Rudaw